Drill-rod holder



March 12, 1957 L. R. PLACHECKI I 2,784,624

DRILL-ROD HOLDER Filed March 1, 1955 a f FIE: E

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IHH II! II HH mmvron LEO R def/EC! rrwwem United States Patent DRILL-ROD HOLDER Leo R. Plachecki, Cold Spring, Minn. Application March 1, 1955, Serial No. 491,393 Claims. (CI. 81-19) This invention relates generally to the vise art and more particularly concerns holders or vises adapted to maintain a secure grip on rod, pipe or other stock that is round in cross section.

The invention has particular application in the drilling art where it is frequently necessary to quickly clamp and hold a rod for bit replacement or to secure a section of pipe, casing or the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a vise of holder for stock that is round in cross section and which is adapted to quickly grip the stock and positively secure it against turning movement on its center axis.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rod holder which tightens itself into a secure gripping relation with the rod as the rod is turned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vise for a piece of round stock which automatically adjusts itself to the diameter of the stock to be held therein.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a work-holding vise which utilizes a wedging princple enabling the operator to secure or release the work with a minimum of time and effort.

With these and still other objects in view my invention broadly comprises a body member so formed as to present a base plate and a stationary jaw which are spaced in generally parallel relation, said jaw having a work-receiving recess opening toward said plate, a movable jaw assembly having roller means on one side for rolling engagement with said base plate and having a gripping surface on its opposite side adapted to extend across said recess to retain a piece of work therein, said surface being disposed at an angle to the base plate for wedging action of the movable jaw, and said body member and movable jaw having means for jointly receiving a common pry bar for removing the movable jaw from between said stationary jaw and base plate.

The above-mentioned and still additional objects of the invention will be brought to light during the course of the following specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved holder, a drill rod (workpiece) being shown in section, and a supporting rod and a pry rod being broken oh? and shown in section, the body member being mounted in upright position and showing the pry rod in position to shift the movable roller jaw upwardly for removal from the holder.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the holder as shown in Fig. l, the pry rod being shown in section, and the drill rod (workpiece) and the supporting rod being broken off and shown in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with the roller jaw shown in work-releasing position in broken lines.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the holder from line 55 of Fig. l, the pry rod being omitted.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, reference numerals will be used to denote like parts or structural features in the different views. While, as heretofore explained, my holder is designed to securely grip any piece of stock which is round in cross section such as a rod or pipe, I have herein shown the device holding a section of rod R. This is due to the fact that I have found the holder particularly useful for securing drill rods during the replacement of drill bits thereon. It is understood, however, that the words rod and drill rod are used merely as illustrative and not as words of limitation.

The body member of the holder is designated generally by the numeral 10. It has a base plate 11 and a relatively thick stationary jaw 12 which are rigidly interconnected by a pair of spaced side plates 13. It will be noted that the jaw 12 and plate 11 are generally parallel with the jaw extending only about half the length of the plate. The jaw 12 is provided with a semi circular recess 14 extending crosswise across the inner face thereof for reception of and engagement partially around the circumferential surface of a rod R. The extended edge of each side plate 13 is cut away as shown at 15 to provide a throat for guidance and entrance of the rod R into the recess 14. It will be noted that the edge extends downwardly and slightly inwardly toward the base plate and i then curves outwardly to meet the jaw 12 at the bottom of the recess 14. All parts of the member 10, that is the plate 11, the jaw 12 and the side plates 13, are integrally related to form a single, solid and very durable body for the holder.

The holder may be mounted in the upright position shown by providing a socket 16 in the jaw 12 for reception of the upper end of an upright support 17. The lower end of post 17 may be embedded in the ground when it is desirable to use the holder at the site of mining operations. When convenient the member 10 may be secured in a vise or mounted in any other suitable manner which will render it immovable.

The movable or roller jaw is designated generally at 19. In the preferred construction it comprises two sections, a carriage section designated at 20 and a jaw section or element 21. The carriage has a pair of elongated independent side plates 22, each of which has a. pair of aligned longitudinally extending slots 23. These plates are welded or otherwise secured to the jaw 21. Rollers 24 formed of hard steel and having center pins 25 which extend beyond the roller ends are disposed loosely between the side plates, the ends of the pins 25 riding in the slots 23. The carriage width is such as to allow it to move freely up and down between the plates 13. The carriage section 20 may be completely independent of the jaw 21 with the plate 22 unattached to the jaw. However, connecting the section through the plates 22 facilitates handling.

In the preferred construction I provide a surface plate 26 of hardened steel on the inside face of the base 11 against which the rollers 24 can roll.

The jaw member 21 has a wedge shape and fits between the plates 22 to ride upon the rollers 24. A reinforcing bearing plate 27 is recessed in the roller-engaging surface of the jaw in facing relation to the plate 26. The opposite side 28 of member 21 converges gradually toward the roller-engaging surface so that the jaw has a downwardly tapering shape. The central portion of face 28 is recessed for flush reception of a hardened jaw plate 29 having an exposed antifriction gripping surface which may be knurled as shown.

Immediately above the plate 29 the jaw member 21 is provided with a socket 31 which opens through the face 28. This socket is adapted to receive the end of a pry bar B for upward movement of the member 21. The upper end of the stationary jaw 12 is grooved as at 32 to provide a saddle on which the bar B may be fulcrumed.

The manner of use of the holder will now be clearly understood. When it is desired to securely grip the rod Patented Mar. 12,1957

the position shown in Fig; 3, with the rollei'sg24 in engagerne'nt with the plates 26 and- 27 and the' surface 30 of the jaw plate 29irestir ig against'therod. 7

As rotary turning actionis then exerted on rod R in the direction indicated by'thearrow in Fig. 3 through means of wrench action upon apart to'be unthi'eaded from the" rod the jaw21 will tighten against the rod. This is due to the non-slip engagement between therod and the surface 30. Asthe rod rotatesthe member 21 'is moved downwardly by the frictional engagement therewith, it beingfreed of-frictionalresistance against the plate 11' by meansofthe'rollers 24 whichserve as-bearings between the plates 2:6 and 27. Accordingly, as the movable jaw descends it exerts increased pressure against the rod until it is positively lo'cked against-further rotation.

.When it is desired to remove the rod from the holder the-member 21 is pried upwardly as by the bar B'with the proximity of the socket 31'and the groove 32 allowing a great; amount of leverage. unthreaded from or threaded upon the rod is'to be turned relative to the rod in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, therod must, of course, be reversed in the holder.

I have thus provided a new and'improved vise for drill rods, pipes orother pieces of round stock which economically and effectively carries out the aforementioned objectives. It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided suchmodifications come within the function and scope of-the appended claims. 'Having now therefore fully illustrated and described rnyinvention, to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1; In a vise-for securing a rod or other piece of round stock against rotation about its longitudinal axis, a body member having a back plate and a stationary jaw disposed in spaced parallel relation, said jaw having a semicircular crossrecess opening toward the back plate for partially receiving a piece of stock, a slidable jaw disposed between the back plate and stationary jaw and having an inclined surface facing said stationary jaw, said inclined surface having a roughened portion facing said recess for securingly holding a piece of stock in the recess, the slidable jaw having a socket adapted to receive the end of a pry rod for moving said jaw away from such a piece of stock, and said body member having a seat adjacent the socket when the slidable jaw'is in stock-securing position to serve as a fulcrum for the pry rod.

2. In a vise for securing a piece of round stock, a body member having a base plate and a stationary jaw arranged in spaced parallel position with a pair of side plate integrally connecting the base plate and jaw and providing a passageway through the body member, said side plates being partially cut away to allow a piece of stock to be inserted crosswise between the plate and jaw and against the jaw,-said' jaw having a recess opening toward the base plate for receiving suchpiece of stock, a movable "and jaw 12'" If the articleor'section to be what 'I claim V 4 jaw member independent of the body member for insertion in'to 'said'pas'sageway between tionary jaw to secure such piece of stock in said recess, and being retained therein by said side plates, said movable jaw having an elongated tapering shape with rotary bearing means on one of the converging sides thereof for rolling along the base plate as said jaw is moved, and the opposing side of said movable jaw having a knurled surface opposing said recess and "adapted to engage such piece of stock. v

3. In a vise for securinga round pie'ce of stock against rotary slippage, a'body member having an elongated stationary jaw and base plate arranged'in spaced parallel relation, means for mounting theibody member with the jaw in vertical position, said aw having a work-receiving recess opening toward said plate, and a movable jaw assembly adapted for vertical clamping adjustment between said jaw and plate, said assembly comprising .a downwardly tap ering wedg e member, roller supports on each side of the wedge: member extending toward said base plate, a pair ofvertically spaced roller bearings journaled in said roller supports and having-peripheral contact with-the base plate and the adjacent sideof the wedge member, the oppositeside of the wedge member diverging from the jaw in its downward extension and having a knurled surface opposing said recess.

4. The subject matter-of claim 3 wherein the roller supports have slots extending parallel to the base plate with the roller bearings .journaled in said slots for rolling movement along said adjacent side of the wedge member.

5 In a vise for securing a rod or other piece of round stock against rotation about its longitudinal axis, a body member having a back plate and a stationary jaw integrally associated in spaced parallel relation, an elongated v longitudinally tapered independent jaw disposed between the back plate and stationary jaw for longitudinal sliding movement "parallel therewith-and having an inclined surface facing the stationary jaw, said surface having a roughened portion for securely holding a piece of stock between the jaws, the wider end portionof said independbeyond the corresponding ent jaw extending substantially end of the stationary jaw, said end portion of the independent jaw having means for reception of the end of a pry rod for moving said jaw longitudinally away from sucha piece of stock, and said corresponding end of the stationary jaw having a seat opposite said means when the independent jaw'isin stock-securing position to serve as a fulcrum for the pry rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 140,561 Warsop' July 1, 1873 707,895 Barnes Aug. 26, 1902 924,269 Paterson June 8, 1909 2,559,100 White July 3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 14;886' Great Britain June 26, 1909 

